Shift Differential Calculator
Add night, weekend and holiday premiums to your base pay.
Add your premiums and see gross pay — all on your device.Estimates use standard overtime math. Not legal or payroll advice — confirm rates and rules with your employer or labor authority.
How shift differentials are calculated
A shift differential adds a flat dollar amount per hour for night, weekend, or holiday work, on top of your base rate. Enter your base hours and the premium hours with their rates; the calculator shows base pay, the shift differential, and gross pay.
State & country rules
A shift differential is a flat $/hour premium for night, weekend, or holiday work set by employer, union, or award — not a legal overtime threshold. Data version 2026.
Shift differentials are flat premiums
A shift differential is extra pay per hour for less desirable times — nights, weekends, or public holidays. Unlike overtime it is not triggered by a legal threshold; it is set by your employer, union, or award, and it is added on top of your base rate for the hours you work at that time.
Worked example. Base pay 40 hours at $20/h = $800. Add 10 night hours at a $3 differential = $30, and 8 weekend hours at a $4 differential = $32. Shift premium = $62, gross = $862. The differential is a flat dollar amount per hour, so a longer premium shift simply multiplies the rate by more hours.
Differentials work alongside overtime. If your premium hours also push the week past 40, the overtime calculator handles the 1.5x layer on top of this base-plus-differential pay. Enter only the hours and rates your employer actually applies.
Premiums can combine. A night, weekend, or holiday shift might stack two differentials — for example a night rate plus a holiday rate. Add both if your employer does; the calculator sums the per-hour premiums for the hours each one applies to.
FAQ
Is a shift differential overtime?
No. Overtime is triggered by hours over a threshold; a shift differential is a flat extra rate for night, weekend, or holiday hours, added on top of base pay.
How is the differential calculated?
It is dollars per hour times the premium hours. A 10-hour night shift at $3 adds $30 to your pay.
Can I combine it with overtime?
Yes. If premium hours also push the week over 40, overtime applies on top. Use the overtime calculator for the 1.5x layer.